LEWISTON — Make-A-Wish Maine recently annouced the results of its largest external fundraising event of the year — the LA Summer Block Party. The goal of the fifth annual event was to raise money to grant 10 wishes — $75,000 for local kids facing critical illnesses in the area. The event planning committee presented a check to Make-A-Wish Maine for $94,000, which will grant 13 wishes, at the Oct. 7 Auburn City Council meeting. Other Make-A-Wish partners participating in the fundraiser were Mac’s Grill of Auburn and the city itself.
“It’s amazing how many area businesses have wrapped their arms around this event,” beamed founder/organizer Jim Marston of Uncle Andy’s Digest “It’s really refreshing to see the Greater Lewiston Auburn community always steps up when asked to help. We are very proud to see and be part of that.”
Marston pointed to the direct benefit to local children as the driving force for choosing Make-A-Wish to partner with. “There is a very real, very tangible result in supporting Make-A-Wish. We get to see a wish happen for a child living right in our community and that’s really unique,” he says
Over the past five years the LA Summer Block party has raised enough to grant 38 wishes to Maine children battling critical illnesses.
“We are beyond grateful to everyone who has contributed to the amazing success of the LA Summer Block Party,” noted Make-A-Wish Maine President and CEO Kate Vickery. “In just five years, the event has grown to be the largest single external fundraiser benefiting Make-A-Wish Maine, and that impact is allowing us to work towards our goal of reaching every eligible child in Maine and delivering the powerful experience that a wish can provide.”